Gas-operated gun loading device



May 31, 1938. H. LAUF GAS OPERATED GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HANS LAUF 7m/enfer:

Attovnqs.'

May 31,1938. H, LAUF GAS OPERATED GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1936 2 SheebS-Sheell 2 HANS LAUF Nin/TEW I Patented May 31, 1938l UNITED sTATi-:s

GAs-orEBArED GUN LoAnnvG DEvrcE l Hans Lauf, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany, as-

signor to Knorr-Bremse Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin-Lichtenberg, Germany Application September 16, 1936, Serial No. 101,160

In Germany September 19, 1935 Thisinvention relates to a device for transmitting the gas pressure in gas-operated gun loaders so as to utilize in a particularly effective manner the gas pressure developing in the barrel during discharge of a projectile. for actuating the breech.

It was the usual practice hitherto to draw off the gas pressure in gas-operated gun loaders at a point located more or less closely to the breech by spot drilling the barrel within the ried portion thereof. As this tapping point was, however, particularly exposed to the action of the powder gases, it could become easily clogged and thus cause jamming of the loader. In other instances, the tap opening was burnt out and thereby enlarged, which had an unfavorable influence upon the motion of the projectile, or solid residue of combustion settled on the opening with the result that the jacket of the projectile was damaged and the ballistic properties of the latter were detrimentally affected. In all such cases the weapon equipped with a gas-operated loader disclosed already after a very short time considerable dispersion and consequently low accuracy of sighting.

Compared with the known art, the invention does not resort to drilling the barrel within the ried portion thereof to discharge the gases but collects them in front of the muzzle by means of a nozzle of special construction, so that gases that can be utilized for driving the projectile are not consumed any more for loading motions and the initial velocity of the projectile is not reduced accordingly.

`Until the projectile leaves the barrel motions of the parts and displacements of weight connected therewith do not occur within the weapon, whereby the eectiveness of the gun is increased and soiling of the opening members by unburnt grains of powder prevented. As the gas channel in the ried portion of the barrel is dispensed with, it cannot become clogged and thereby cause cessation of ring or vary the speed of firing owing to burning out. The new arrangement further prevents damage to the jackets of projectiles and thus enhances security of iiring.

To make possible the collection of the gases in front of the muzzle the invention provides for extending the length of the barrel and fitting the extension with a larger bore than the actual barrel, the extension having the larger bore being either integral with the barrel or a separate member that may be screwed to the barrel. To the extension a nozzle is attached which is provided with a channel which serves for drawing od and passing on the gases of explosion. The outlet end of the nozzle cooperates with a gas piston which transmits its motion to the breech for instance by tubular rods. To insure proper initial guiding of the piston it is constructed according to the invention 'as a cylinder open on one side, which overlaps a sleeve disposed in the outlet end of the nozzle. Owing to this arrangement, considerable pressure is exerted upon the weapon in forward direction in the manner of a muzzle gland, so that not only the recoil during discharge is reduced to a very great extent but rising of the muzzle during continual firing completely eliminated.

The invention further provides for arranging around the outlet end of the nozzle a casing which serves also as carrier for the front sight. On its side facing the muzzle the casing possesses outlet openings through which the gases can escape when the gas piston has been thrown forward, in consequence whereof the breech is relieved of counter-pressure and can return to firing position and during return of the gas piston residue of combustion and particles of dirt together with the gases of explosion are ejected through the openings. Soiling is thus eifectively prevented which, as experience shows, easily leads to complete failure in such gas-operated. loaders.

The device according to the invention may be used also for guns of larger caliber, such as antiaircraft guns, etc.

By Way of example, one form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure l is a section of the front part of the barrel with the device according to the invention attached thereto, the position of the gas piston corresponding to the ring position of the breech; Fig. 2 shows the device with the gas pis- Aton in a position corresponding to the opening position of the breech; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the nozzle at the muzzle; Fig. 4, a view of the nozzle seen from the left; Fig. 5, a view of the nozzle seen from the right; Fig. 6. an external view of the nozzle; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of the casing at the outlet end of the nozzle; and Fig. 8, a front view thereof.

The barrel l is provided with the usual spiral grooves la and has an extension or muzzle portion 2 extending from the mouth of the rifled part, the internal diameter of which is somewhat greater than the part provided with the spiral grooves. The tubular part of a nozzle 3 is slid on the barrel extension 2. Nozzle 3 contains a channel 4 which, at its outlet end, is extended parallel to the bore of the barrel I, said channel having a somewhat turbine blade-like curve in the tubular part of the nozzle and having its inlet end bifurcated to extend to two diametrically opposite, lateral openings Il in the muzzle portion 2 of the barrel. As shown on Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the channel 4 is shaped in the vicinity of the perforations Il so that the gas passing through the barrel from the rear forwardly is not subjected to an abrupt deviation on passing into the passage 4 of nozzle 3, but is diverted in a. curved path from its original direction of now, whereby the formation of eddy currents is prevented. The curved path also allows the gas to retain its kinetic energy which is ultimately expended against a Piston.

As shown on Figs. 1 and 2, the mouth of the channel l, disposed parallel with the barrel I, can be constructed as a sleeve 4b screwed at 4a into the nozzle l, which, however. is not an indispensable requirement. Sleeve lb extends into the cylindrical tube l2, in which the gas pressure piston l is located, which, by means oi the tubular transmission I, actuates the lock or loading mechanism of the weapon. Piston 5 is constructed as a hollow cylinder at 5a so that, in the position shown on Fig. l, it telescopically engages sleeve lb which is the mouth o! channel l, and thus promotes the required powerful gas action on the piston 5. Attached to the front end of the cylindrical tube I2 is the housing 1 encompassing the nozzle 3, said housing 1 serving at the same time as a support for a part of the sighting device, namely the ijoresight 8. The inner` chamber of this housing is conically enlarged at 'la in the direction toward the muzzle of barrel i, and its front closure wall has a plurality of large gas outlet openings il (see Figs. 7 and 8). 'I'hese outlet openings provide an easy egress for the gas which has acted to throw back the piston. Because of openings 9 the powder residue contained in the gas has no opportunity, as in known weapons, to deposit in the piston chamber in large amounts in a very short period of time to such extent that the effectiveness of the weapon is reduced. The chamber Il), which corresponds to the stroke volume of the rear surface 5a of piston r5, exerts a damping action on the movement oi.

the latter.

In order that the gas can pass oi! through all the outlet openings il with the minimum of external resistance, the part of the nozzle housing 3 which is in front of one or more of the openings .0 is tapered conically toward the openings 9.

The new device functions as follows:

When the projectile passes through the expanded portion of the muzzle, the gases of explosion enter the nozzle 3 and thereby exert considerable pressure upon the gas piston 5 which is thrown to the right and thus causes the withdrawal of the breech, not shown. As can be clearly observed from the open cylindrical construction 5a of the piston 5 as shown in the drawings, the gases expand within the cylindrical piston until the piston has moved sumciently so that it no longer telescopically engages the sleeve 4b. The gases can then escape through the openings 9 to relieve the piston 5 of pressure, and the movement of the piston is damped by the air cushion within the chamber I0. When the breech is advanced again, the gas piston 5 is moved to the left and ejects the remaining gases of explosion as well as particles of dirt and residue on combustion if any through the openings 9. These motions of the piston 5 are continued until it occupies again the position shown in Fig. 1.

An advantage is obtained in forming the extension 2 as an integral part of the barrel I inasmuch as a warping, due to heat developed in iiring the gun, of the extension relativeto the riiied portion of the barrel is prevented. Consequently the true movement of the projectile is not affected by heating oi' the parts. Another advantage is obtained from the enlarged bore of This conical taper is designated by the numeral anales the extension 2, as considerable powder'gas residue can collect, after prolonged nring oi' the gun, around the openings Il without building up sutnciently to intercept the path of the projectile. and thus deiieot it from its true course.

I claimz- 1. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a barrel, a barrel casing, a gas pressurecylinder and a piston movable therein adapted to actuate a loading mechanism, the muzzle portion ofthe barrel having an enlarged bore, two oppositely arranged outlet openings for combustion gases in said bore, a nozzle attachment surrounding said muzzle portion and containing a channel which communicates with said outlet openings, and a housing on said pressure cylinder having apertures directed towards the muzzle end of said barrel, the interior of said housing being shaped like a funnel opening towards said aperures.

2. A pressure operated gun comprising a' barrel, a barrel casing, a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein adapted to, actuate a loading mechanism, said piston having a hollow cylindrical end section, the muzzle portion oi.' the barrel having an enlarged bore, two zippo--- sitely arranged outlet openings for combustion gases in said bore, a nozzle attachment surrounding said muzzle portion and containing a channel which communicates with said outlet openings, the outlet end oi' said nozzle attachment being formed as a guideway for the cylindrical end of said piston, and a housing on said pressure cylinder having apertures directed towards the muzzle end of said barrel, the interior of said housing being shaped like a funnel opening towards said apertures.

3. A pressure operated gun comprising a barrel, a barrel casing, a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein adapted to actuate a loading mechanism, said piston having a hollow cylindrical end portion, the muzzle portion of the barrel having an enlarged bore, two oppositely arranged outlet openings for combustion gases in said bore, a nozzle attachment surrounding said muzzlevportion and containing a channel which communicates with said outlet openings, a sleeve secured to the outlet end of said nozzle attachment and being formed as a guideway for the cylindrical end of said piston, and a housing on said pressure cylinder having apertures directed towards the muzzle end of said barrel, the interior of said housing being shaped like a funnel opening towards said apertures.

4. A pressure operated gun comprising a barrel, a barrel casing, a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein adapted to actuate a loading mechanism, said piston having a hollow cylindrical end section, the muzzle portion of the barrel having an enlarged bore, two oppositely arranged outlet openings for combustion gases in said bore, a nozzle attachment surrounding said muzzle portion and containing a channel which communicates with said outlet openings, a sleeve secured to the outlet end of said nozzle attachment, said sleeve being formed as a guideway for the cylindrical end of said piston, and

a housing on said pressure cylinder having aper" 

